Caught in Possession

Looong day, what with DCU’s training and leisurely press conference at RFK, then an afternoon/evening of office work, and dinner with a good friend visiting from out of town. But having finally heard/seen with my own ears/eyes that Christian Gomez is as good as gone from DC, I felt compelled to get a few thoughts on the page before I crash out.

Life moves in cycles, I suppose. I was present at Gomez’s unveiling in August '04, when he arrived as an unassuming vet from the Argentinean second division, brought north to bring a spark of inspiration to a once-proud club redolent in mediocrity and uncertainty. United had produced occasional bursts of brilliance in Peter Nowak’s first year in charge and even occupied first place in the East at the All-Star break, but were equally prone to amazingly anonymous displays – as indicated by their failure to win consecutive league matches until September.

In retrospect, you could say that the Freddy Adu hype – and the classic MLS midsummer blues – had begun to take a toll. You might point out that 2004 was possibly the crescendo of the “meaningless MLS regular season” phenomenon, and chuckle at the fact that when Gomez was signed, DC was in third place, lagging eight points back of the conference-leading MetroStars.

Regardless, United had just gone more than a month between wins and with the playoffs approaching, there didn’t seem to be much this pedestrian-looking Argentinean would be able to offer. A certain Washington Times beat reporter (who shall remain nameless but whose byline can still be found attached to other summer sports coverage in the city) took one look at Gomez and his bio, threw up his hands and exclaimed, “Twenty-nine years old, small, slow, hasn’t played for a club anyone’s ever heard of – what’s this guy going to do!?!?” Or something to that effect. And many within earshot would likely have agreed.

Three and a half years later, Christian “Don’t-Call-Me-Gomito-‘cuz-I’m-a-Grown-Ass-Man” Gomez is set to leave the nation’s capital. His fingerprints are all over an MLS Cup title, two Supporters’ Shield trophies, a league MVP gong, three Best XI nominations and numerous team awards. He carried his team on his back for weeks at a time. Perhaps he even inspired the ongoing MLS Argentina goldrush. And most importantly…he always, always followed Cantona’s Directive: play beautiful.

“Christian Gomez basically turned this club around.”

-Ben Olsen, 28 Jan 08